7th Memphis officer disciplined, 3 emergency workers fired following death of Tyre Nichols

Two more Memphis, Tenn., police officers have been disciplined and three emergency responders fired in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols, officials said Monday, widening the circle of punishment beyond the officers who violently beat the Black man during a traffic stop to those who failed to help him after. 

Officer Preston Hemphill, who is white, was relieved of duty shortly after the 19-year-old FedEx worker's Jan. 7 arrest, the police department announced Monday. Later in the day Memphis police said another officer had also been relieved of duty, but did not name the person or specify what role they played in the incident.

That brought the total number of Memphis officers who have been disciplined to seven, including the five Black officers who were fired and charged last week with second-degree murder and other offences in Nichols's beating and Jan. 10 death.

Also Monday, Memphis Fire Department officials announced the dismissal of emergency medical technicians Robert Long and JaMicheal Sandridge, as well as Lt. Michelle Whitaker.

Fire Chief Gina Sweat said in a statement that the department received a call from police to respond to a report of a person who had been pepper-sprayed. The workers arrived at 8:41 p.m. as Nichols was handcuffed on the ground and slumped against a squad car, the statement said.

Based on the nature of the call and information they were told by police, Long and Sandridge "failed to conduct an adequate patient assessment of Mr. Nichols," the statement said. 

An ambulance was called, and it arrived at 8:55 p.m., the statement said. An emergency unit cared for Nichols and left for a hospital with him at 9:08 p.m. — 27 minutes after Long, Sandridge and Whitaker arrived, officials said.

An investigation determined that all three violated "multiple" policies and protocols, the statement said, adding that "their actions or inactions on the scene that night do not meet the expectations of the Memphis Fire Department."

The killing of Nichols has led to days of public discussion of how police forces treat Black citizens with excessive violence, regardless of the race of either the police officers or those being policed.

On body camera footage from the initial stop, Hemphill is heard saying that he stunned Nichols and declaring, "I hope they stomp his ass."

Memphis Police Department officers used a stun gun, a baton and their fists as they pummeled Nichols during the nighttime arrest.

Video shows Nichols running from officers toward his house after he was pulled over on suspicion of reckless driving. Nichols, a 29-year-old father, was heard calling for his mother as he struggled with his injuries as sat helpless on the pavement, video footage released Friday showed.

The five officers chatted and milled about for several minutes as Nichols remained on the ground, but there were other authorities on the scene. Two Shelby County sheriff's deputies have been relieved of duty without pay while their conduct is investigated.

In the Nichols case, the police department has been responsible for internal disciplinary measures, such as firings, while the Shelby County district attorney has handled the criminal charges.